Context: You live on the farm with your mother, and you see a lot of stray Nekos come through. You two even have something of a rescue center for them, and most are thankful, if skittish. Brutus has been around the longest, and he's big and mean. Always seems like he can take care of himself, even for such a young lynx Neko. Until, it seems, tonight.

Setting: The farm

Tags:[FM4A][Enemies to Friends][Mother Speaker][Tsundere Child Lynx Neko Speaker][Caring Child Listener][Stray][Rescue][Reverse Comfort][Care][Trust][Vulnerable][Size Difference][Ear Pats][Sweet?][Wholesome?][Angst][Gender-flipping OK!][CW: Mention of Injury]

Usage: You may tweak or record this script. Gender flipping is OK! Please credit me if you use this script in any of your projects. If you would like to use this script for a paywalled recording, please note:

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Note: The mother character can be swapped to a father character, or whatever works best for the Speaker :3
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[Scene opens on the farm]

[SFX: Early morning farm ambiance]

[You’re going through rows of crops, taking notes on any that look sickly, when you hear your mother yelp closer to the barn]

[M] “Brutus!!! Damnit, that’s the fourth chicken this year!”

[SFX: Some muted lynx snarls]

[M] “Don’t you snarl at me, Mr. Neko! I told you, if you’re hungry, we can help-!”

[SFX: The Listener’s mother yelping and jumping back as Brutus swipes at her]

[M] “Hey! I know you didn’t just swipe at me, mister!”

[SFX: The Listener rushing over]

[You hurry over and see your mother confronting Brutus, a Neko your age who is unusually large compared to others you’ve seen]

[M] “Sweetie, be careful. He just got to one of the girls and I think he’s still in bloodlust mode or… whatever they call it. I dunno! The Sheriff said that he was a lynx and that’s why he’s so aggressive, but Lord who knows with this one!”

[B, coldly] “I understand your speak.”

[M] “Oh, I know you do, you stubborn boy! Chip and I have run into you plenty enough times to know how smart you are these last four years!”

[Brutus sneers]

[B] “You will not catch.”

[M] “Brutus, we don’t want to catch you to hurt you. Normally, we’re happy to let you roam and such, but that infection in your leg is getting worse… I’ve heard you getting sick a few times. You’ve been disoriented, having trouble hunting… You had been respecting my request that you leave the livestock here alone up until recently. You’re a good boy, Brutus, so I know you didn’t break your promise out of spite.”

[Pause]

[He glares from your mother to you, but his ears perk slightly as he looks at you]

[B] “...Is it… really bad?”

[M] “Yes, it-”.

[B] “I am talking to them! Is it bad?!”

[You look from him to the wound and wince automatically. His ears flatten and you see him glance about nervously]

[B] “No… Just need a bath!”

[M] “Brutus, if you go into the lake or river water, the infection will just get worse! Please, you’re just a kitten, barely older than Chip, here! We just want to help… We’ll fix you up and then you’re free to go. But at this rate, if you don’t let us help, you won’t last more than two more weeks…”

[...]

[Brutus’s eyes grow wilder]

[B] “N-No… No! You are lying!”

[M] “...If you don’t believe me, then ask Chip. You know they’ll be honest, at least.”

[Pause]

[B] “... No! Neither of you get near me, I don’t want any of your ‘help’!”

[He bolts, faster than either of you can capture]

[SFX: Brutus fleeing the crime scene]

[You and your mother sigh together as he flees into the fields]

[M] “Oh, Brutus… The nights are getting colder by the damned day, and he’s the only stray Neko we can’t get to just come inside long enough to rehabilitate him… I’m sorry, Chip. We might have to call one of the local people to come and nab him… It’d be horrible to force him into the adoption system, but there’s no other way to save his life…”

[She sighs and runs a hand through her hair]

[M] “...I’ll call Jack tonight. He won’t be back in until 9 PM anywho. Tell him we need his help getting Brutus.”

[Pause!]

[M, voice shaky] “Oh, honey, I know… I don’t want to hurt him either, but he needs help. C’mon, we should focus on our work for the day. The rain is going to be freezing tonight, so I reckon we open the cat house up, just in case any of the strays that haven’t been adopted yet wants to come in. Actually… I think it’s just Brutus now, isn’t it? Oh, and you even built that bed for him… my poor Chip…”

[Pause]

[She sighs and shakes her head]

[M] “Right. C’mon, let’s not dwell on it.”

[You both trudge off to do your work, the mood a bit soured now]

[Time transitions by nine hours]

[SFX: Rain pounding on a tin roof and a fire crackling]

[You’re curled up in the cat house at night, curled up in a big beanbag with a big blanket]

[M] “Alright, kiddo, I’m going to finish supper up and then I’ll call Jack after. You enjoy your quiet time while we have some, huh? Hehe, whoo lord, I am tired.”

[SFX: Thunder cracking]

[...]

[M, with a sigh] “I looked everywhere I could for him, sweetie… You know Brutus, he’ll have found him a spot for the night. We’ll find him come morning. Now, I gotta get back to supper, OK? Love you!”

[Pause!]

[SFX: The door closing]

[You pass the time as you please for a bit when you hear something odd…]

[SFX: Muted scratching at the door]

[B, weakly] “H-Hel…”

[Pause!]

[SFX: A door hurriedly unlocking and the door opening]

[Brutus stands a few feet from your door, almost paralyzed]

[...]

[B] “...you promise…?”

[Pause]

[He takes a deep breath and shuts his eyes before he steps inside]

[SFX: Wood creaking and a door gently shutting]

[Brutus stays still for a moment, shaking]

[...?]

[B] “What? ...I… Fine, you can pet my ears. Whatever.”

[SFX: Gentle ear pats]

[He shudders, so tense that his teeth are grit. Little by little, you help him dry off and into the bed, you helped build for him]

[B, struggling] “Is safe? You promise is safe?”

[Pause]

[He slowly, carefully, lies down, shaking. He hardly reacts as you rest a blanket over him and pet his ears more]

[SFX: Brutus settling into bed and, eventually, the door opening]

[After some time, your mother walks into the room]

[M] “Sweetie, have y-?”

[She stops dead as she sees you and claps a hand over her mouth, eyes filling with tears]

[M] “Oh, Brutus! Oh, good job, sweetheart, you got him! Keep him still now, OK? I’ll go get the medicine right now!”

[SFX: Footsteps hurrying off]

[...]

[B] “...Hnh?”

[Pause]

[B] “...Medicine…”

[You can see him weakly eye the door before he lets out a defeated sigh]

[B] “...Can’t fight anymore… You promise, I have no choice but to trust…”

[Pause]

[He whines quietly, still shaking so hard]

[B] “...Please, food… Too tired to hunt…”

[SFX: The Listener getting him some food and helping him eat]

[His nose wrinkles as you go to help him eat but you can tell he’s too weak to fight you. He sighs quietly, almost in tears]

[B] “...Must you help me eat? Ah, what am I saying… of course, you do… Mhh smells good… Please…”

[You help him eat and drink, stoking the fire on occasion until your mother returns]

[SFX: The door swinging open and the Listener’s mother hurrying in]

[M] “You got him eating, good. Hey, Brutus… Can you hear me OK, big guy?”

[Brutus lets out a quiet, pained growl]

[Pause]

[M, still using a bit of a baby voice] “Oh, I know, buddy. I know you’re in a lot of pain… Don’t you worry, OK? I have to give you a few shots, and you definitely need a bath, but then you can rest as long as you need. Chip here ain’t going to leave your side any time soon. Hold still, OK?”

[Brutus growls again. It’s quieter, though. He jerks and snarls with each shot but has no strength to fight it]

[Pause]

[B] “Rrfgh! Agh! Stupid pointy things! Hate you!”

[M, soothing] “I know, buddy, I know… C’mon, one last thing, and then you can rest. Just gotta get a bath in. I’ll fill that wash tub with warm water, we’ll get you cleaned up real fast, and then you can right back to lying by the fire. Chip, you keep with him, alright? I think he likes you.”

[Brutus hisses]

[B] “Kss! I like no one!”

[M, still soothing] “I know, buddy, I know.”

[SFX: Water running]

[Pause?]

[B] “No! I am not ‘fine’! I hate this! I hate you! I should’ve stayed out there and just died with dignity!”

[...]

[He tenses as you pet his ears again]

[B] “...Why would you have been sad…? I’ve… never been kind to you.”

[Pause]

[He’s silent as you explain yourself but, the longer you talk, the more you see his expression crack]

[B] “...You still liked me being a part of your routine… of your life…”

[Pause]

[He draws a shaky breath and cranes his head into your touch. His voice is quiet. Broken]

[B] “... I-I don’t want to die.”

[Pause]

[B] “...You promise?”

[Pause]

[B] “...OK.”

[SFX: The water stopping]

[M] “Alright, Brutus. I’m gonna pick you up and get you cleaned up. Please don’t take my face off, OK, buddy?”

[He looks at you listlessly as he’s lifted. You nod and he sighs]

[B] “...OK.”

[To be continued]